Shopping My Stash September 2017

September 19, 2017 - Vicki Leave a comment

I have been reducing down my makeup collection for a good few months now & have found a good way to weed out products you don’t enjoy anymore is to rotate your makeup & shop your stash each month. That way you get to use more of what you have, discover products you may have forgotten about & also reaffirm why you might not reach for a particular product anymore & pass it on to free up space!

Doing this each month has helped me no end and it means at the end of the month I have condensed my collection down even further and It is becoming more manageable. I’m aiming to be left with only products I really love. #makeupgoals

Mii Power Matte Lip Creme in Eternity

I think I will just have to accept that 9/10 matte lip products are just not going to be comfortable on the lips. This one from Mii Cosmetics isn’t too bad if I put a crap tonne of lip balm underneath to lessen the blow. I suffer through (slightly dramatic) because this shade is just beautiful and it is such an easy shade to wear. I love it and I am willing put up with the tight, dry feeling on my lips. I am sure that most people wouldn’t find it that bad but I don’t often opt for a matte lip, however I have fallen for this nude shade in a big way.

Essence Blush Palette in Play it Peach

I adore this cheek trio but it has found it’s way to the back of my drawer, so I am excited to use it more. The shades are nice and subtle and you get two beautiful blush colours and a highlight shade. I often use the highlight shade as an eyeshadow too – I just sweep it all over the lid to brighten up my eye look and it works a treat.

Rosie for Autograph Cream Shadow Sticks in Feline Fox

I am going to be bold and say this cream shadow stick is my all time favourite and I don’t say that lightly. I have quite a few brands and shades in my collection but I always reach for this one. I took it away with me on my recent trip to Amsterdam and I wore it on a night out & my eyemakeup stayed in place all night long. This shade is a stunning deep bronze brown shade and you can either blend it out really well so it is quite light or go bold and wear it quite dark. Either way it doesn’t crease and it looks so good either on its own, under a powder shadow as base or worn as liner.

Primer Plus Skin Adaptor Anti Pollution

This is a base that transforms to your skin colour to give you that fresh, even skintone. It isn’t going to give you the same coverage as a foundation but I like to wear this either under my base or alone as a lighter coverage. I would compare it too a tinted moisturiser, it gives you a nice amount of coverage whilst feeling hydrating and lightweight on the skin and it also leaves your skin looking smooth & beautifully radiant. I loved using it over the Summer so I am going to carry on using it as my everyday base. I love that it has helps protect my skin from the effects of pollution and free radicals.

Rimmel Brow This Way Styling Gel

This is the only brow product I have been using these past few months so it is no surprise that I am keeping it in my everyday makeup bag again this month. The brush is small enough that you don’t get product all over the place and are able to be quite precise with where you place the gel. It tames, enhances and keeps my brows in place all day so that ticks all the boxes for me.

Rimmel Wonderfull Mascara

This mascara helps to keep your lashes looking and feeling their best – it contains Argan Oil which is nourishing for your lashes and stops your mascara from going crispy and flaking. I have recommended this product to so many people this year and love how long and fluttery it makes my eyelashes look! My tube is almost finished so I wanted to keep it on rotation this month so I could use it up but spoiler, I am going to repurchase ASAP!

Essence The Cushion Eyeliner

I stopped wearing eyeliner earlier this year mostly because I am lazy but I think the colder months call for darker eye makeup so it is the perfect excuse to get my winged liner on! This Essence Cushion Liner is jet black and applies very smoothly, it isn’t as much of a phaff as you’d think, just make sure you have yourself a decent angled brush and take it slowly. Do not apply too much at once & I find I get the pointiest wings using this liner and it doesn’t bleed at all.

Rimmel Radiance Brick in Medium

I love these kind of multi-tonal powders & have a few in my collection from different brands and they are such so easy & effortless to use. I just swirl my brush through all the shades and sweep it across my cheeks & you get a lovely glowing, bronzed look. Think sunkissed & fresh faced rather than disco ball. I am not too sure how much I will use this in the colder months but I will apply it with a light hand – oh & I have used it as eyeshadow too, it works really well!

Essence Blush / Rimmel / Rosie / Mii Matte

What products have you switched in & out of your makeup bag this month? I bought a new foundation whilst I was in Amsterdam so I have been using that all the time this past couple of weeks. I will be spilling the beans on what it is in the coming weeks so keep an eye out for that. Al I will tell you is it was under £5.

*This Post contains PR samples

New In My Beauty Stash #5

August 7, 2017 - Vicki 4 Comments

I thought I would share a few new products that have made their way into my beauty stash, some of which I’ve been using for a couple of months and one that just came through my letter box last week (but I’m already head over heels in love) can you guess which product that it?

The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG 30ml

I have a post coming up in a few weeks talking a little more in depth about my favourite products from Deciem but I wanted to put this particular product in this post mostly because I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed a product as much as this one or seen such incredible results as quickly. I have been using this Caffeine Solution everyday since I received it back in April & I simply adore it. I would say the best way to describe it is as a lightweight serum that has a slight tackiness to it which once applied feels weightless yet hydrating and soothing on the skin.

You apply it to around your orbital bone (around your eye area) and it helps reduce puffiness, reduce dark circles and it has actually reduced a patch of pigmentation I had to the edge of my eye.

Caffeine – Constricts blood vessels to reduce discolouration and swelling.
EGCG – Sourced from green tea, EGCG has strong anti-inflammatory properties, and is also proven to reactivate dying skin cells.

It is without a doubt my favourite product from The Ordinary & that is saying something because I’ve tried quite a few amazing products from this range but this solution has visibly reduced uneven skintone and my eyes have never looked as healthy. It is like liquid sleep. I can’t sing it’s praises enough but if you did need any more convincing to try it yourself the price tag might just sway you – this 30ml is only £5.80! Now all I ask is that you don’t buy it in bulk, leave me a bottle or two.

Lancome Monsieur Big Mascara £21.00

This is the latest mascara release from Lancome & I am usually a huge Lancome Mascara fan but this didn’t really cut it for me. I get that Lancome (I think) are trying to appeal more to a younger market with this Monsieur Big Collection as the packaging isn’t as sleek or luxurious as you’d expect from Lancome and the promise of up to 12x volume and 24 hour wear is a little far fetched. I found the formula too wet and hard to apply to coats without it looking clumpy. One coat gives you a good amount of volume and it is a very ultra black formula but for £21, I think I will stick to my beloved Hypnose or the Doll Eyes.

Batiste 2 in 1 Dry Shampoo & Conditioner

To be honest I prefer the stand alone dry shampoo, I wasn’t entirely sure how to use this for the best results. I found that if I put too much on my roots it made them look a little greasy & If I sprayed too much through the length it made it feel icky. With it costing more than the actual dry shampoo I would say stick to that don’t over complicate things with adding a dry conditioner to the mix. The only plus of this product for me was the fruity, Summery scent, which I really liked.

Giorgio Armani Eye & Brow Maestro £28.00

I’m quite happy with my brow routine at the moment so I haven’t actually been using this on them, I have been using it as an eyeshadow primer & also on it’s own all over the lid. So the Eye & Brow Maestro comes in 8 shades and it has a cream formula which is also waterproof so for me it has been working so well on the eye. This formula doesn’t crease and it stays put all day long. I have the shade 05 Auburn which is a gorgeous as a soft taupe / brown shade. I do love a cream shadow simply because they are lightweight on the lid, this formula does not crease and their effortless to apply (I tend to use my finger to blend). I am smitten with this.

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye Concealer

I bought two shades of this in a blog sale and OMG I’ve never (ever, ever) tried such a full coverage concealer. This stuff is seriously full coverage and waterproof. That being said you’d think at first glance that it would be too thick to use under your eye, worrying that it would gather in all those pesky fine lines (which you do not want to draw attention too). If use use just the smallest amount and I mean a slither of product and really blend it in you have yourself a concealer that will cover anything and last all day without accentuating fine lines or looking cakey. It’s infused with high-performance pigments and anti-aging peptides, vitamins, hydrolyzed collagen, hyaluronic acid and antioxidant.

This concealer is great at covering anything you could name, blemishes, redness, dark circles and even help reduce the appearance of wrinkles. It has changed my life. I have found myself just using this in the areas that need coverage and not even reaching for a foundation. My makeup routine just got a whole lot quicker.

Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette £.39.50

The internet has been going crazy for this new release from Urban Decay, I really like that they’re always adding to their Naked range and some of my most worn and best loved palettes are from the Naked Collection. I adore the Naked Ultimate Basics (all matte) and the original Naked Palette is still my absolute favourite (apart from the fuzzy packaging. So this new addition to the Naked family is a beauty, I feel like it has been very well thought out, you get 12 warm toned shades that are perfect for every season. You get a stunning selection of warm earthy shades with everything from amber toned neutrals including warm browns and burnt oranges to deep red browns and glimmering coppers.

Chaser – light nude matte
Ounce – ivory shimmer
Sauced – soft terracotta matte
Low Blow – brown matte
Lumbre – copper shimmer w/gold pearl shift
He Devil – burnt red matte
Dirty Talk – metallic burnt red
Scorched – metallic deep red w/gold micro-shimmer
Cayenne – deep terra-cotta matte
En Fuego – burgundy matte
Ashes – deep reddish-brown matte
Ember – deep metallic copper-burgundy

Ember / En Fuego / Dirty Talk / He Devil / Lumbre

As with all the Naked Palettes, there is a nice mix of finishes and textures including mattes, micro shimmers and two smooth buttery light base shades. Urban Decay eyeshadows are always fantastic quality, richly pigmented and easy to blend as this palette does not disappoint. So say that I’m thrilled to bits to have this in my collection would be an understatement.

So what is new in your makeup bag lately? Let me know if you have tried any of the products I’ve mentioned.

*This post contains PR samples

Shopping My Stash Summer Edition

July 3, 2017 - Vicki Leave a comment

If you have read my blog for a while now you will know that I’ve been on a bit of a mission to use the products I already have and not spend as much money on makeup (the struggle is real). That way I get to shop my stash which is always fun and it leads me to rediscover so many lovely products. I like to rotate my everyday makeup at least once a month so I thought I would share a few of the products I’m using at the moment.

W7 The Naughty Nine : Mid Summer Nights Palette

I bought this last year and I love it, it might be more of an Autumnal palette but this is such a fantastic budget friendly selection of eyeshadows. The quality is very good and much better that you might expect from such an affordable brand. It’s dubbed as a dupe for the MAC Burgundy Times Nine Palette. I can’t comment on that but the colours do look quite similar. You get 9 shadows in the palette and I like the range of nude toned neutrals & the fact you get a good selection of coppers, cranberries and a few nude pink tones. There is a nice mix of mattes, satin finishes and shimmers all of which are pigmented and blend well. It’s unusual to find good affordable matte shadows but these are very good quality, in fact regardless of price this is an outstanding palette and one I highly recommend checking out. I like this palette a lot!

NYX Vivid Brights Liner

These came out last Summer and would be ideal for a cute Festival look, I have the violet shade which isn’t as bright as some of the other shades in the range but it is still a pretty colour. This has a very fine brush which makes it easy and fuss free to apply, it gives you a very clean, precise line. The colour is quite bold but not overly bright and it lasts all day without smudging. I like wearing this violet shade in the warmer months it is a nice change from my usual black or brown liner.

Bioderma Sensibio AR BB Cream

This is a fantastic base if you suffer with redness or have acne scarring as this has amazing coverage without feeling heavy on the skin. It is a multi action skincare and makeup hybrid and gives you that perfect combination of dermatological care and a great tinted coverage. This will cover uneven skin tone, redness and give you a radiant, glowing finish without feeling heavy or greasy on the skin. It is a great Summer base because of its incredible skin loving ingredients – Ginkgo biloba, green tea and soy which help to inhibit the factors that cause persistent redness. The active ingredients also work to reduce inflammation and immediately soothe your skin. It is also feels very lightweight and comfortable on the skin but gives you great coverage and I love that it has SPF30 protection too.

Clinique Chubby Stick Super Strawberry

These crayon style lip products are some of my favourite to use and Clinique have some really lovely shades available. This strawberry one gives your lips a wash of hydrating colour. It has a fresh glossy finish and this light berry pink is very pretty and flattering, perfect Summer lip colour.

Rimmel Super Gel Polish in Coral Queen*

I have all the shades from this new Super Gel Beach Ready Collection but I really like this bright orange shade the best. I have worn it on both my fingers and toes and it is a fun Summer shade. It is vibrant and looks great with a tan. Rimmel nail polishes are always very good quality and the formula is easy to apply, fast drying and pretty long wearing too, so for me they tick all the boxes!

Garnier BB Cream 5-in-1 Eye Roll-On Light

This Garnier BB Eye Cream has a roller ball applicator which makes it a great travel concealer – fuss free and no brush needed. It has quite a hydrating / liquid consistency which is what makes it perfect to use under my eyes. It feels refreshing and it perks up my skin and makes me look more awake. It’s that ideal shade which brightens but still provides good coverage for those pesky dark circles. I love that the product doesn’t sink into my fine lines which is often a problem for me. This little tube lasts me for months and as I said it is perfect to travel with or pop into your everyday makeup bag.

Essence Blush Up Powder Blush

How beautiful is this peachy pink blush from Essence – it screams Summer.I love that this blusher has a ombre gradient effect and you get 3 different shades going from a stunning orange to a pretty pink. You can either use the colours individually or sweep your brush across the shades and pick up a mix of all three colours. This is really pigmented and not too powdery or chalky. I like that all three colours are matte so no shimmer in this at all. I’m excited to use this over the Summer to create some pretty looks.

MUA Luxe Glow Beam Highlight Cushion in Gold

Over the past few years we’ve seen quite a few of the luxury high-end brands like YSL, Dior and Chanel bringing out cushion products inspired by the Korean beauty market and it’s never long before the high street follows suit. I love MUA as a brand and their product selection is fantastic and really good quality too, so when I saw that they had released a cushion highlighter I was very excited to try it out. It is a peachy gold highlight and it can look quite subtle or if you want more on an intense look you can build up the colour & effect to be more intense. I use it on the tops of my cheeks and under my brow bone and it applies so well to the skin, it doesn’t accentuate my fine lines and when it catches the light it looks so pretty

Urban Decay Beached Bronzer in Bronze*

This is a really nice warming, matte bronzer, Its perfection. It doesn’t look muddy or orange, it warms up your skin so you look more sun-kissed and less like you’ve been tango’ed. I think for £20 that this is a great product to add to your makeup bag for Summer, especially if like me you like to avoid getting a tan but like to look bronzed and healthy. The packaging is adorable and the palm tree detail on the compact and the packaging is good quality, slim and you get a great sized mirror in the lid which is handy for reapplying your lipstick throughout the day.

What products have you added to your makeup bag for Summer?

*This post contains PR Samples and Affiliate Links

Shopping My Makeup Stash February 2017

February 15, 2017February 15, 2017 - Vicki Leave a comment

Clinique Chubby Stick Cheek Colour Balm in amp’d up apple

I am 100% on board with the Clinique Chubby Sticks, they’re effortless and so easy to use. This is one of their cheek chubby sticks and it is in the most beautiful rosy pink shade. This gives a pretty healthy flush of colour. I find this doesn’t last too long on my skin but I do have quite oily skin so that might play a part. This does apply and blend really well and I adore the shade. I am looking forward to wearing this more as we head towards Spring.

Tarte Tarteist Mascara

I have a few mascaras on rotation at the moment and this one from Tarte is my favourite for giving definition and length to my lashes. It is a great everyday mascara and really holds a curl. If you prefer your lashes to look more dramatic and full this isn’t for you. This coats every individual lash and is intense black. I have enjoyed all 3 of the Tarte mascaras I have tried and I want to give their foundations a go next. If you have recomendations of Tarte products I would love to hear them.

Rimmel Kate Lipstick in Boho Nude*

I haven’t been wearing very adventurous makeup so far this year & I’ve been enjoying the low key, natural look. This lippie is one of the 6 nude shades released by Rimmel to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Kate Moss and Rimmel London’s beauty collaboration, this Boho Nude is perfect for my current mood, it is a very easy to wear true soft brown nude. This is one of those lipsticks you can keep in your handbag because it would look great for any occasion, it is easy to apply and feels creamy smooth on your lips. It doesn’t have the greatest staying power but I don’t mind having to reapply throughout the day. I love the rose gold packaging too.

Stila Smudge Stick Liner in Moray

I have these smudge stick liners in an array of colours and to be honest I like them all but there is just something so pretty about this moray shade. It is a stunning olive green with a very subtle hint of sparkle. These are waterproof and have some serious staying power. It adds a little pop of colour to your eye look without being in your face and it is often nice to wear something other than your usual black eyeliner.

YSL Touche Éclat Le Teint Foundation in B30 Almond*

I have been applying this new YSL foundation with The Body Shop Buffing Brush and I think they’re the perfect duo. This applies beautifully and wears well throughout the day. It has a medium coverage and gives my skin a healthy radiance which I like. I also think that this looks better throughout the day and its lightweight formula means it doesn’t look or feel heavy.

It contains Vitamin E which protects against free radicals and also has SPF 22 to provide sun protection. I was a little worried to try this at first as I have heard YSL foundations often break people out but I didn’t have any problems at all. I have the shade B30 Almond and it is a great match for me, this foundation is available in 19 shades and YSL have great Touche Éclat Shade Finder so you can chose your ideal match.

INGLOT Eyeshadow Palette

I made this 10 pan freedom palette a couple of years ago in the INGLOT store in Amsterdam. I still love all the colours I chose but I just haven’t been using it much these past few months. INGLOT eyeshadows are amongst the best I have ever used, high-end quality with a purse friendly price tag. If you get the chance to visit a store (i know there isn’t too many) you have to make your own palette. They have a huge selection of shades, finishes and textures, I’m excited to start using them again.

bareMinerals Foundation

I have totally fallen back in love with mineral foundation, I forgot just how pretty and natural the coverage looks. It feels lightweight on the skin and you can build up the coverage if you wish. I also use this as a setting powder on top of a liquid foundation if I want that full coverage look and this powder leaves your skin looking so silky smooth and flawless. If you haven’t tried a mineral foundation before I highly recommend this one, it comes in 20 shade options and has SPF15.

Clinique Chubby Stick / Rimmel Boho Nude / Inglot Eyeshadows 407 / 452 / 405

*PR SAMPLE

Essence Blush / Rimmel / Rosie / Mii Matte

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Ember / En Fuego / Dirty Talk / He Devil / Lumbre

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Rimmel Kate Lipstick in Boho Nude*

YSL Touche Éclat Le Teint Foundation in B30 Almond*

Clinique Chubby Stick / Rimmel Boho Nude / Inglot Eyeshadows 407 / 452 / 405

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